Obituary: Winnebago County, Wisconsin: Frederick A. CODD ************************************************************************ Submitted by Kathy Grace, November 2004 © All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ************************************************************************ Winneconne Local May 14, 1914 p.1 Veil of Sorrow is Cast Over Village Untimely Death of Little Freddie Codd Saddest Accident in History of Our Village 22 Rifle Deadly Plaything The saddest and most touching accident in the history of the village occurred here last Tuesday evening, May 12, when little Freddie Codd became the victim of a 22 calibre rifle, which was being shown to him by Virgil Smith, the twelve year old son of Mr. and Mrs. F.J. Smith, at his home here. The exact details of the accident are apparently lacking, but the story as told by Virgil is as follows: Several days ago he was given a 22 rifle by Charles Bradley, the gun then was in a detached condition and Virgil had managed to put it together. The gun was of an old pattern and had not been in use for a number of years, there was no trigger to it and the only way it could be shot off was to draw the hammer back with the thumb and let it fly again. He took the gun home, and his parents took it away from him, hanging it up in the living rooms back of the store. On the afternoon of the fatal day according to his story, someone took the gun down and he, Virgil, had the gun outside and had left it standing in front of the store, where he left it unattended. Later he took it in and stood it in his bedroom. That evening between seven and eight o'clock Freddie Codd came into the store to buy some soap, and it seems that the two boys went back into the living rooms together. Upon entering Virgil said to his mother, who was in the sitting room just back of the store, "That gun smells awful strong of powder" and he went to get it. Mrs. Smith was playing on the piano with her back to the children, and Ruth Boman and Bernice Smith were playing jacks at the table. Freddie sat at the table and when the gun was brought he arose. Virgil first asked Miss Boman to smell of the gun, but she refused, and according to the boy's story, he stood the gun against the wall and moved away. It was then that Freddie picked it up to smell of it holding the end of the barrel close to his nose and jarring it in such a manner as to explode it. The gun was loaded with a 22 long cartridge and entered the head in the left nostril without leaving a single scratch on the outside, following the nostril up, leaving it at the back side and entering the brain, causing almost instant death. Miss Bowman, who was at the table, but a short distance from Freddie, does not know the true occurrence leading directly to the firing of the gun. She says she was watching Freddie smell of the gun and saw the victim fall to the floor. Mrs. Smith knew nothing of what was occurring until she heard the shot, and turning she beheld Freddie on the floor. The story leading up to the shooting as told by Virgil, was not confirmed by the testimony of others brought out at the inquest which was held Wednesday afternoon. Miss Boman, the one eye witness to the affair, testified that the boys came into the rooms from the store together and while Virgil went to get the gun Freddie sat at the table, arising as the gun was brought. They were but a few feet apart and when the gun was brought she was asked to smell of it, but being afraid of firearms in general, she declined, then Virgil turned to Freddie and asked him if he wanted to smell of it. Immediately after the shooting Virgil quickly stood the gun back into the bedroom and ran outside, spreading the news of the shooting. He disclaimed all knowledge of the fact that the gun was loaded, or ever had been loaded, claiming that Milton Smith, with whom he had been playing that afternoon, loaded the gun as it stood outside, stating that he, Milton, had previously purchased cartridges for the gun and had given them to him, Virgil, but he did not want them and had thrown them in the river, with the exception of six, which that afternoon his father had taken away from him. At the inquest Milton Smith stated that he had seen the gun the day that Virgil got it, and had seen it but once since then and that was a few days after Virgil had put it together, he had walked with him a short distance down the track one day, but did not stay with him. Milton further stated that he had not purchased any cartridges and given them to Virgil, saying that he had been out hunting himself with a couple of young friends from Oshkosh Sunday forenoon when, according to Virgil's story, he was supposed to have been buying cartridges at one of the hardware stores. He said he had never loaded the gun and was not at Virgil's home at any time during the afternoon of May 12. The inquest was held under the direction of District Attorney McDonald at 2:30 Wednesday afternoon, before a jury of the following men: J. Smith, Loren Leeman, G.E. King, Wm. Korn, Chris Bersch and Chris Anderson. After the testimony was exhausted the jury retired to another room and in 30 minutes presented the following verdict "We, the undersigned jurymen, find that Frederick A. Codd came to his death by a gunshot wound from a rifle in the hands of Virgil Smith, at about 7:45 o'clock, May 12, 1914." After the reading of the verdict Virgil was taken into custody by Sheriff Zweifel and was taken to Oshkosh where the trial will be held. It is with a feeling of sympathy that we are called upon to write a few words on the death of Frederick A., the eldest child of Rev. and Mrs. Frederick G. Codd, who departed from this world in a violent manner, Tuesday evening, May 12. Everything that loving hand and medical aid could do was of no avail, for quickly following the fateful shot his young spirit fled from this life to dwell with Christ, who said "Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not, for such is the Kingdom of Heaven." We feel the deep grief of the sad hearted parents and other relatives in their sad bereavement; but the Lord who doeth all things well and he never directs anything for his children except in infinite love. His purposes of grace may ripen in a better way under this cross than without it. Frederick A. Codd was born at Chicago, March 10, 1905. The funeral was held from the Village Hall at two o'clock this afternoon, May 14, and the remains were laid in their last resting place in the local cemetery. Rev. A.F. Hayward of Wauwatosa officiating. Those from away who attended the funeral were: Mr. and Mrs. J.P. Brock, Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Brock, Mrs. and Mrs. John Codd, and Harry Codd, all of Chicago.